Computer maker Lenovo yesterday launched a new brand of
notebooks and desktops in an effort to expand its focus beyond
business users to tap the growing consumer market.
The new brand, which includes IdeaPad for notebooks and
IdeaCenter for desktops, will be available first in 14 countries
and regions including the United States, France, Russia, India,
Singapore and China. The company will also initiate a global
marketing campaign along with the new offering.
Both product lines are designed for consumers, featuring stylish
designs and customized applications such as facial recognition and
Dolby home theater systems.
Lenovo hopes the new brand has the same success in the world
consumer market as its ThinkPad and ThinkCenter products have had
in the business sector.
"Our ThinkPad notebooks are well-known around the world as the
best engineered computer for business," said Liu Jun, Lenovo's
senior vice-president and president of the consumer business
group.
"We are confident we will grow our consumer business by blending
innovative technologies like facial recognition with attractive
designs to enhance the way people use technology."
Lenovo became the third largest player in the global PC market
after it acquired IBM's PC unit in 2005.
The company has long been known for its ThinkPad business
notebooks in countries like the United States and Europe, but its
consumer business has been limited to China.
According to research firm IDC, Lenovo's share of the world
consumer market was 4.6 percent in the third quarter of last
year.
(China Daily January 4, 2008)
